Ferrari's CEO Crushes All Hope for Manual Transmissions
Sergio Marchionne has confirmed there’s “zero” chance for a manual transmission.
Speaking at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show with CAR, Marchionne shared some insights about the Italian automaker. Along with confirming that manual transmissions are a thing of the past, he said that the naturally aspirated V12 engine is here to stay. They will, however, likely be mated to electric motors to create hybrid powertrains and the next step is two years away.
A big topic of discussion for the brand last year was its production. Some argue that Ferrari should keep its production numbers low to preserve its exclusivity, but Marchionne sees things a bit differently. He feels the worst thing you can do to a customer is to turn them away, adding that the waiting list for Ferrari cars is long.
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That means the Italian automaker will produce more units this year than last, but the final tally will still be under 8,500 cars. That still may not be enough to satisfy demand, with Marchionne throwing a light jab at its main competitor Lamborghini. “I have a lot of respect for Stefano Domenicali,” he said in regards to Lamborghini’s current CEO. “But a lot of people buy Lamborghinis because they can’t get their hands on a Ferrari.”
Whether that’s true is a topic for debate, especially since Ferrari doesn’t have a Nurburgring record-setting model.
[Source: Car]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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To say that now? After we learned the CIA can hack your car to kill you like they killed journalist Michael Hastings in 2013?
Boring three pedals always win